From BBC News · · 2m
Ship attacks near Hormuz hit record high
Twelve vessels reported attacked in a week as Iran widens strikes and oil shipments slow.
In brief
Twelve vessels reported attacked in a week as Iran widens strikes and oil shipments slow. Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz reached a weekly record of twelve vessels between October fifth and eleventh, as Iran expands strikes beyond the strait and oil exports decline. Originally reported by BBC News.
Record weekly attacks
Twelve ships reported being attacked between October fifth and eleventh near the Strait of Hormuz, the highest weekly total since the US-Israeli war with Iran began.
One day, six strikes
Six vessels were struck on Sunday alone, a one-day record. The previous week saw ten ships reporting attacks, and four more have been reported so far this week.
Petro Dolphin on fire
The Nicaragua-flagged tanker Petro Dolphin was struck by a drone near Sohar Anchorage, Oman, more than two hundred fifty kilometres from the strait. Eleven Indian seafarers were rescued but two remain missing.
Container ship sinks
The container ship GFS Pride sank after being struck by an unknown projectile in the strait on Tuesday. Twenty-one crew were safely evacuated. The IRGC published footage claiming the vessel carried contraband.
Oil shipments decline
About twelve point six million barrels per day went through the strait on October thirteenth, down from fifteen million at the end of September and below the pre-war baseline of seventeen million.
Iran expands strike zone
Iran is carrying out attacks far beyond the strait. A tanker was struck north of Qatar on October eighth, more than five hundred kilometres away. Another was attacked near Al-Jazirah al-Hamra, UAE, on October ninth.
Strategy shift
Martin Kelly, CEO of Orbital Risk Intelligence, said Iran has evolved its strategy and is carrying out near daily or multiple attacks every single day to stop ships and deter others from transiting.
“The aim here is to stop the ships going through and to deter others.”
US Navy assistance surges
US Navy data shows vessels given assistance navigating the strait during the first ten days of October were up eighty-five percent compared with the same period in August.
In short
Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz reached a weekly record of twelve vessels between October fifth and eleventh, as Iran expands strikes beyond the strait and oil exports decline.
